Rangefinder and automatic reticle setter



BBS-261- -w- J. L EATHERWOOP H mennnnnn AND Ami 1411C 'RB'QIQLEV m Filed s t g1 JAMES M. LEATHERWOOD INVENTOR.

AT TORNE Y United States PatentO 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Two integral cam faces on the inside of a scale ring manually adjustable around the barrel of a telescopic sight are engaged by followers which elevate and vertically space two horizontal cross hairs pivotally mounted in the barrel. When the hairs have been so separated as to bracket a standard height target seen through the sight, the lower hair is automatically at the proper elevation to be aimed at that target at the range then indicated on the scale ring. The ring is made readily removable and replaceable by rings with cam surfaces designed for other target sizes.

This invention relates to telescopic sights for guns .and has reference to a range finder which automatically adjusts the trajectory of a gun without necessarily knowing the distance to the target. While the invention is intended for use on rifles, primarily, it is adaptable for use on all guns.

Heretofore, telescopic sights such as referred to were pivotally mounted on the gun barrels and were positioned, in part, by springs between the barrels of the scopes and the barrels of the guns. Such spring mounting was objectionable because foreign particles could interfere with the sighting and because the exposed springs were subject to accidental displacement.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a telescopic sight for guns including a range finder having reticle framing means automatically adjusting the trajectory of the gun and wherein the barrel of the sight is rigidly mounted parallel with the length of the gun barrel.

Another object is to provide means for easily and conveniently changing cams comprising a part of the automatic means so as to be usable with charges of different magnitudes.

A further object is to provide a gun sight of the described class wherein all moving parts other than the adjusting ring are fully contained within the scope barrel. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a telescopic sight or scope according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the center portion of the scope illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of that portion of the scope illustrated in FIGURE 2 and showing the sco barrel and adjusting ring in section.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a broken perspective view of one of the adjusting ring halves and showing the two cams therein.

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view showing the reticle framing a near target.

FIGURE 7 is a schematic view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing the reticle framing of the target at a greater distance, and

Patented Mar. 1 1, 1969 FIGURE 8 is a schematic'view showing the lower framing hair and the vertical hair on target.

The scope shown includes the usual barrel 10, objective lens assembly 11 and ocular lens assembly 12. For the purpose of this description, that end of the scope including the ocular lens assembly 12 will be referred to as the rear of the scope, and that end including the objective lens assembly 11 will be referred to as the forward end. The scope is mounted on the gun, parallel with the axis of the gun barrel, by means of a conventional frame, not shown. The forward and rear portions 14 and 13 of the scope barrel 10 are connected by threads 15 rear- .wardly of the barrels center, and the forward end of said rear portion is enlarged to provide a shoulder 16 around the threadedly received forward portion. Around the forward barrel portion 14 and in turning contact with the shoulder 16 there is an adjusting ring 17 which may have calibrations 18 around a portion of its surface adjacent its forward periphery for registering with a fixed line 19 on the forward barrel portion 14. A retainer ring 20 is mounted around the forward portion 14 and is in contact with the adjusting ring 17. As shown in FIGURE 1, the fixed line 19 extends across the retainer ring 20 where it is in juxtaposition with the calibrations 18.

The adjusting ring 17 is transversely divided into halves 17a and 17b which are detachably secured to each other by screws 21 received in ribs 22 along the adjoining edges of the ring halves. Within the forward end of one adjusting ring half 17b there are two arcuate internal earns 23 and 24 which have to do with adjusting lower and upper horizontal aiming and framing hairs 25 and 26.

The horizontal hairs 25 and 26 are transversely supported in the forward ends of tubes 27 and 28 of different diameters and these tubes are loosely received one within the other. The larger diameter tube 27 is pivotally mounted at its rear end for vertical angular movement by means of pins 29 projecting inwardly from opposite sides of the forward portion 14 of the scope barrel 10. Similarly, the smaller diameter tube 28 is pivotally mounted at its rear end by pins 30 projecting inwardly from opposite sides of the larger diameter tube 27. Both tubes 27 and 28 are cut away along their upper forward portions at 31 and 32 so as to increase their pivotal movement. The lower forward portion of the inner tube 28 is vertically recessed at 33 so as to avoid contact with the lower horizontal aiming hair 25. By this arrangement both hairs 25 and 26 are positioned substantially one above the other at all times. A stationary centrally located vertical hair 34 is mounted just forwardly of the horizontal movable hairs 25 and 26 and is held in place by shouldered retainers 35 in the forward barrel portion 14. To those versed in the art it will be apparent that the tubes 27 and 28 are, in effect, frames or yokes, and that additional portions of the tubes may be cut away and yet function as intended. There is a light compression spring 36 mounted in the forward barrel portion 14 which urges the outer tube 27 upwardly, and there is a light compression spring 37 in the first tube which urges the inner tube 28 upwardly. The cutaway portion 31 of the outer tube 27 extends rearwardly of the cutaway portion 32 of the inner tube 28 whereby follower pins 38 and 39 may be mounted on top of the respective tubes for engagement with the cams 23 and 24 in the adjusting ring half 17b. An opening, not numbered, is provided in the barrel portion 14 to accom modate the follower pins 38 and 39.

The operation of the invention is based on the premise that the average height of a target is known and the rises of the earns 23 and 24 are made, in part, accordingly, either by calculation or empirical tests. The power of the charge being used must also be taken into consideration because the differences in charges make differences in.

horizontal center of the scope barrel 10 and is not necessarily a part of the construction. The target is framed between the horizontal hairs 25 and 26 by turning the adjusting ring 17 and which action not only serves as a range finder but adjusts the aiming hair to some distance below the transverse center line C. The vertical hair line 34 and the aiming hair 25 are then used for aiming and firing as shown in FIGURE 8. It is by reason of the position of the aiming hair 25 that the gun barrel is tilted to the correct trajectory angle.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telescopic sight including a scope barrel for mounting on a gun at least substantially parallel with the length of the barrel thereof, an adjusting ring rotatably mounted around said scope barrel, upper and lower horizontal hairs within said scope barrel, separate pivotally mounted frames supporting said hairs for vertical I 4 I l I I .2. In a telescopic sight as defined in claitnl, the construction wherein said adjusting ring is demountably transversely divided.

3. In a telescopic sight as defined in claim 1, the construction wherein said pivotally mounted frames consist of one tube within another.

' References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,126,335 8/1938 Langsner. 2,155,389 4/1939 Arden. 2,155,390 4/1939 Arden. 3,340,614 9/ 1 967 Leatherwoo d.

I FOREIGN PATENTS 27,525 2/ 1907 Austria.

1,204 1/1888 Great Britain. 28, 194 12/1911 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. HULL, Primary Examiner.

. US. Cl. X.R. 

